Vietnam Air eyes order for 50 jets in 2025 with Boeing as top contender

Vietnam Airlines JSC will issue a tender for 50 narrowbody jets in the first half of next year with Boeing Co. a lead contender to win the order, CEO Le Hong Ha said. “It is open to everyone. Boeing is one option — a good option because they gave a very good offer to us,” Ha said, while suggesting that Commercial Aircraft Corp of China Ltd. would also be considered. Vietnam’s national carrier will issue at a later date a second tender for roughly the same number of single-aisle and widebody jets, Ha added, speaking at the annual meeting of Asian airlines in Brunei on Wednesday. Vietnam Airlines in 2023 signed a commitment to buy Boeing’s 737 Max jets, but hasn’t yet finalized the order. The carrier will issue the new tender to all manufacturers to make their best offers. The airline is looking to grow in size to 170 aircraft by 2035 as it seeks to fully rebound from the pandemic — which decimated its finances — while fending off budget rival VietJet Air, which threatens to overtake it as the country’s largest carrier.<br/>